Architect Breaks Down Why All American Diners Look Like That | Architectural Digest

Are they mostly in the midwest and eastern US? I can count on one hand the dining car style diners in California, Oregon, Washington or Hawaii unless I just don't know where to look! These mid level restaurants are called coffee shops out here.

Favorite diner in the US? Got to be Lou Mitchell's with a waitress, Donna, who must have opened the place way back when. Oh yeah, the piping hot donut holes when you're standing in line in the snow, is just the preamble to an incredible meal.

So...the title is misleading. He did NOT explain why they look that way.

Victory architecture

I’ve been pronouncing “Googie” with a hard G sound on the 2nd G forever. Lol. Oops. No one I’ve ever known has known what it was so I was never corrected. Always thought “Google” ripped them off cuz if it 🤷‍♂️

Motels were just as important in the Googie style as diners, if not more so. The most well-preserved examples of these I have ever seen is in Panguitch, UT.

I see this googie style of architecture art in the minds of engineers that was applied to circular above grade concrete water tanks. A few were built and some are surviving today. Most were built in the 1960s and at the end of their useful lives. They are being replaced with other modern types.

Wow that was an unreflected comment on architecture. Worthless.

I love the shiny out side and the menu and the seats 😊❤

Hudson's Grill in Lancaster, CA (1990)
I love 60's era Diner's, the most. I go for the atmosphere and food. You can never go wrong with a burger, fries, and a shake.

Next, analyze the movies 'Dont worry darling' and 'Asteroid city'.

The Jetsons is reminiscent of the Space Needle, not the other way around. Remember that Glenn’s scorched, burnt, capsule was a highlight of the fair. Lower level restaurant added a couple decades later to improve revenues.

Turkey Club. Betsy Ross Diner in Waterbury Ct. R.I.P.

I like that American diner look it’s really nostalgic and fun

Pann's in La Dera Heights near LAX! It's greatest conceit Menu Wise are the Chicken 🍗 and Waffles Combos! The sweet/salty juxtaposition can send your appetite into orbit! Jetson's style!

So Is the Theme Building at LAX still called Encounters? I love this emblematic building!

This video is fascinating and the host’s enthusiasm is contagious. Thanks for sharing!

The space age designs of these buildings never cease to amaze me

Forget Googie's. If you grew up in N Jersey you know what a diner looks like, but more important who goes there and why. Food is inexpensive, fast and fresh. Tradesmen, blue collar (no collar) patrons with limited lunch time sit at the counter. In my opinion, a classic 1920's diner is the Summit Diner.

My favorite is Ruth’s Diner up Emigration Canyon just east of Salt Lake City.

Brilliantly informative and an absolute fun watch! Thank you, sir❤

The only sandwich to order in a DINER.............Turkey Swiss Club Sandwich.😉

The Daily Planet in Poughkeepsie.

Western Omelett; no tomatoes, with a side of cheesy hasbrowns, bacon, and grits.

Never heard "Googie" pronounced like this.

Wolf's Dinner, Dillsburg, PA.

Chicken Fried Steak and eggs, Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon and Eggs, Waffles, Hotcakes, Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Chili Fries, Real Ice Cream Milkshakes, etc. Oh the memories. ❤

This was phenomenal. Thanks!

I love this episode!

Great video. I love Diners, and the only one I eat at when in the US is Glory Days Diner in Greenwich, CT.

The West Taghkanic Diner is my favorite.

Nevada has a hard a. It's not "Nevahdah," but "NevAAAAdah." You'll get immediately corrected if you call it "Nevahdah" in anywhere west of the Rockies (for sure) and (likely) anyway west of the Mississippi.

Very nice encapsulation.

I wish this architect would have noticed the recent designs for the P.Terry's chain of burger restaurants in Texas (started in Austin). They have a Googie style to them and each one is different in design.

these reproduction diners do not look like the originals, modern architects and their designs suck

This era is not over. It planted a seed that is about to sprout. How many of us who lived through it have it in our DNA?

My favorite diner is Mickey’s Diner in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Thanks for this very informative video. It’s also been very architecturally informative. Thanks again for the awesome video.

This was a beautiful lesson.

I grew up in Niagara Falls where there is a diner called The Flying Saucer, themed as a flying saucer, with the parking lot delivery option as a kind of accumulation of everything in this video.

My favorite American Diner in Miss PeppeR in Dasing/Germany! None is closer to me!

Because these places are free mason. Black.and white checkered floors.

I was a server in the 90’s and ended up buying my own dinner in the City of Rosemead, California, it was called The Brite Spot! I had no idea the history or dinners! Thank you!😀

What about the Masonic black and white checkered floor?

Now explain why whenever a vintage camper is restored, they remodel the interiors to look like a 50s diner, always with the black & white floor tiles, Every. Single. Time. 😖

American diners are so cool

Rosebud. Davis Square, Somerville, MA

I live in Worcester mass and the were a hub for dinner cart production. There are still several still operating in the city

Wards grill in Saluda North Carolina is my favorite. It has North Carolinas oldest grocery store attached to it and above are office spaces that used to house railroad workers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.